FOREST AND STREAM' 



99 



For Forest and Stream 

 NOVEL BUFFALO HUNT. 



nthiu 

 ked, boiled in 

 ncd from the 



WR have nO* been on Hie plains twenty days, and 

 have had but a few antelope to supply US with 

 Some Indian hunting parties (probably t.Iic- 

 Pralrie Sroe Ventres] have ranged through this section of 



the iv, driving and scattering the game before them. 



Numerous Iiuge butfalo bulls, Mid an occasional 



cow's skeleton, are seen scalicroil over the plain, as evi- 

 dence of a successful hunt by the Indians. At this season 

 the Indian? seldom use the "buffalo skins, selecting but a. 

 few of the largest for making lodges. They dress their 

 game "Indian fashion," simply unjoinling the legafrolti 

 tile body, and stripping the flesh iroi 

 pieces far drying. The larger hones • 

 a largo camp* kettle, and the marrow 

 water and used for making pemmican. 



Several old bulls have been seen by our party, and were 

 chased by a nmb composed of lrauisiers and cooks, mount- 

 ed on males, others on foot, and one individual was seen 

 tearing over the prairie on a gaunt looking mule with a 

 a aided on the animal's' back for a saddle. Strange 

 to say, one man mounted on a mule actually overhauled a 

 buffalo bull, aud succeeded in severely wounding him. bill 

 brought iu no meat. One large bull examined his i nemies 

 from a "roll 1 ' in the prairie until they were within a few 

 hundred yards of him, aud already several wen- think- 

 ing seriously of fresh hump rib, when the bull threw up 

 his tail aud "head and immediately went galloping over the 

 plain, giving the ''good day" to his hungry pursuers. One 

 Nimrod. was heard to remark, "1 am going to wail uutil 

 we find them thicker.'' 



Bill few sri,j,. hens, and no sharp tailed grouse have been 

 seen since leaving the Milk River, An occasional prairie 

 falcon, a few of the rare longspurs (particularly I'ieeiro- 

 ..'i. and numerous prairie dogs and gophers are- 

 all that have been observed during the past few days. Hue 

 Of our scouts has just come in lrorn Fort Benton with the 

 mail, lie has brought me two copies of the Forest and 

 Stream, which are rapidly passing through camp, as there 

 have be^n but few papers received. Very truly yours, 

 Jos. H.'Batty. 

 & rtmButtet, STontam Territory, Axtguit 8th, 1874- 



For Fore-si and Stream. 

 A NEW RESORT FOR "SPORTSMEN. 



V BY MOHAWK. 



A NARROW strip of sandy and meadow land, twenty 

 miles long, and "from a half mile to a mile wide, runs 

 from Barnegaf mlci loLitlleEgg Harbor inlet. Between 

 it and the main land on the West, is Tuekerton Bay, in 

 some places seven miles wide; on the East side is the 

 Atlantic Ocean, and directly opposite Tuekerton a part of 

 this land Called Beach Haven, which, but a year since, was 

 nothing more than a barren, sau^y waste, such as you rind 

 on all lands so situated. This vear it is an established sum- 

 mer resort, having two excellent hotels, far better than the 



latter named 



iverage, i hr 

 the ''HntBl i 

 crabs are to 

 The Parr 

 four hundrei 

 week. The 

 and of good 

 Bay View Hi 

 kept; ( 

 respect 

 Dr. Al 

 and Mi 



, fn 



the 



uodat 



ltd 



the fact that if any 



icre. 



between three and 



comph. 

 aportei 



place, 

 their 1 1 



passed 



ocean ; 



ople. The charges are $3 a day, or $14 a 

 e is excellent — there being -always plenty, 

 lily, great variety and well cooked. The 

 j is a smaller house, but said to be well 

 ges $110 a week. The three cottages are owned 

 ivelv by Mr- Archibald R, Pharo, of Tuekerton; 

 >crt"H. Smith, a leading physician of Philadelphia, 

 . Phillip Dun, of Trenton. Next year there will be 

 more collages erected, and four new hotels will be 

 ted in time for the season of 1875. As a resort for 

 ren and those foml of yachting, I know of no better 

 One great advantage is. that sportsmen can take 

 Dailies with them. As for health, it cannot be sur- 

 situated as it is. in reality, some six miles out in the 

 and on account of this and there being compara- 

 tively no decomposition of vegetable matter, it is destined 

 to be a great resort for those afflicted with, hay fever. 

 There were many there this year who had failed every 

 where else to find relief. 



The suit bathing is very fine, aud the still water bathing 

 equally good. The facilities Beach Haven has for yacht- 

 ing 'are excellent, there being a stretch from inlet to inlet 

 of twenty miles, aud across from shore to shore of front six 

 to seven miles. For those who prefer the ocean to sail on, 

 it is easily reached by going out through Little Egg Harbor 

 inlet, which is a short sail; also by a continuous stretch of 

 eighteen miles, Atlantic City cau be visited without going 

 outside. 



The shooting and fishing are excellent, as good, if not 

 better thau any where else on the. coast. Wi'llet, marJin, 

 curlew, large and small yellow legs, black breasted plovers, 

 dowitehera, robins, and the various kinds of wading 

 birds are to be found at the proper time in great numbers 

 on the bars, meadows and islands in the bay; and the larger 



I die numerous on the salt marshes. The fishing 



for sheepshoad is Baid 10 be superior to that of any other 

 place. Certain it is that they are found iu large numbers. 

 The Parry House employs two fishermen all the time to 

 do what is termed "sheepshead" forthem, and whose catch 

 tor this season has been, with hook and line, over 400 each. 

 At the table of this hotel the sheepshead is to be found 

 every day for dinner. For fourteen days I lived on sheeps- 

 head; not a mouthful of meat did I eat during that time. 

 Never before have I been able to live on fish alone for such 

 a continuous length of time, and I understand it is one of 

 the peculiarities of the fish that no one tires of it. 



Some pot-fishermen some two or three weeks ago drew a 

 seine on the sheepshead fishing ground aud got 'about 800 

 at a haul, This act much incensed the bay men, hotel 

 proprietors, and all those interested in the preservation of 

 Lheir valuable fisheries, and dire vengeance was threatened 

 on these miscreants should they ever attempt the repetition 

 of the villainous act. in order that there shall be no re- 

 petition of this offense, the people of Beach Haven are 

 endeavoring to have passed a legislative enactment for their 

 protection. 



Weak fish are also in large numbers, one gentleman hav- 

 ing caught over eighty in a morning; and sea bass and 

 i| ad baM tishing is equally good. Good yachts fur sail- 

 bag with competent seamen and fishermen and gunners are 

 always to be had at reasonable charges. The great feature 

 of the place, as a resort for sportsmeu and their families, 



is, that whOe you meet respectable people, the fast and 

 rough element is absent. Yet there are none of the re- 

 strictions of more fashionable places. For example, gen- 

 ilenien wear blue tlnnucl shirts instead of white ones, and 

 the ladies confine themselves to their every-day home 

 toilets. Beach Haven uwes its prosperity to the energy of 

 Mr, D. K. Allen, of the Tuekerton Railroad, who may be 

 said to have made this charming resort what it. is. 



The mosi direct route to reach there is by the New 

 Jersey Southern Railroad from pier 8, North River, by 

 way of Sand v Hook and Long Branch. At Whitings you 

 connect with the Tuekerton Railroad, a splendid piece of 



is a live Vermonter. At Tuekerton you take the steamboat 

 across tin; hay lo Beach Haven, affording a most delightful 

 sail of seven miles. 



Duck aud brand* shooting is very fine in the Fall and 

 Spring, and also for geese in the Spring in Tuekerton Bay; 

 lleut accommodations can be obtained at Van 

 Note's Hotel, Tuekerton. 



OUR BEST GAME BIRDS. 



BV HOMO. — NO. I. 



"Huffed Grouse and Ruffed Grouse Shooting. 1 ' 



THE wide extent of country which the Ruffed Grouse, 

 (or, as they will call it, Pheasant in Pennsylvania, 

 and Partridge in "New England), inhabits, causes it to be 

 well known in almost every section of the United States, 

 and there are few sportsmen who have not toiled and been 

 tantalized in its pursuit. Early in April the cock grouse 

 begins his wooing, and perched upon some fallen log, com- 

 mences his amatory drumming, calling to his side the un- 

 fortunate mate whose family duties he will soon refuse to 

 share. Unlike the quail, who assists his partner in hatch- 

 ing and rearing her young, the ruffed grouse deserts his 

 better half after she has finished her nest and completed 

 her laying, to seek the company and enjoy the society of 

 just such other lazy and selfish fellows as himself; thus he 

 leads a life of ease uutil Ids progeny have become almost 

 as large as the mother, when the packs of grass widowers 

 are broken up. and all mingle indiscriminately with the 

 broods of grown birds. 



Doubtless, in point of flavor and delicacy, the ruffed 

 grouse may be awarded the palm above all other birds of 

 the gallinaceous tribe, but on account of its extreme wari- 

 ness and the almost impenetrable nature of the grounds it 

 frequents, its pursuit when no other game is sought is ac- 

 complished only by extreme labor and fatigue, requiring 

 likewise a thorough knowledge of its habits before even a 

 passable bag can be made. Sometimes when come upon 

 suddenly, and when we least expect it, they squat and lie 

 close for the dog, but far more frequently they will not 

 admit of approach and make off at the first intimation of 

 danger, running and taking wing to some tree where they 

 remain closely concealed under the branches near the butt, 

 until I he sportsman has passed. When the ruffed grouse 

 is young, however, they lie better, but at all times silence 

 should be observed when the near proximity of game is 

 supposed, as it will more readily bear the approach of the 

 dog than the sound of the human voice, or the noisy foot- 

 step of the shooter. The most favorite resorts of the 

 grouse are the sides of hills overgrown with hemlock and 

 cedar, with undergrowth of laurel. In level countries they 

 frequent swampy coverts and scrub oak patches, and if 

 such places have a tangled and briery bottom, the better 

 will l hey lie, as it impedes their running. 



A good grouse dog is a rarity; he should be thoroughly 

 up to his work, long accustomed to it, staunch, earefuf, 

 and satisfied with a point the instant he catches scent. 

 The fast ranging, busy youngster, no matter how fine he 

 may be on other game, "had better be left at home, for he 

 will certainly do more damage than good. 



AVhen a grouse is put up at the foot of a hill he will most 

 likely ascend it, iu his flight,, and if not alighting on its 

 side, can generally be found directly over the summit, aud 

 will lie belter ami give a closer shot thau when first dis- 

 turbed. I have always met with some success when I 

 could tiud a, swamp or thicket at the base of a mountain to 

 which the birds came in the morning to feed, and posting 

 myself between the hill and their feeding place, while a 

 companion started the grouse, would obtain fair shots as 

 they [Kissed near me. 



Fully two-thirds of the ruffed grouse we see in the mar- 

 kets are either snared, trapped of lulled by professionals, 

 who tree them by the aid of small dogs trained for the 

 purpose, and while the poor bird is gazing at what he most 

 probably takes for a fox beneath him, the pot hunter mur- 

 ders him as he sits. It was related to me by a brother 

 sportsman a few days since that some years ago, while 

 stopping at a public house in Burlington county, N. J. , 

 where he had gone on a shooting trip, he met a fellow of 

 this snipe, hailing from New York city, who regularly 

 visited and attended one hundred and more snares set, for 

 grouse iu the scrub oaks and swamps, and that almost 

 daily he would return with fifteen or twenty, which would 

 be packed and shipped to market. To the doors of such 

 worthies cau be laid the disappearance of the bird where it 

 was ouce so plentiful. 



1 have a number of shooting friends who are quite en- 

 thusiastic in regard to the sport and eagerly indulge in it, 

 feeling amply repaid after a, day of weary tramping over 

 rocky hills and through dense coverts to be able to bag one 

 or two brace, which, take it the season through, may be 

 considered an average score for the sportsman. The laws 

 of the Stale of New Jersey protect the grouse until Novem- 

 ber 1st, (when also the season for quail commences,) aud 

 although it is argued that October 1st aud even September 

 loth should be the opening days, for ruffed grouse shooting, 

 as the young at this time are large enough to be shot and 

 fully able to take care of themselves; still I think the law 

 a good one, and if properly enforced, will greatly tend to 

 increase their number. 



The sportsmen of Newton, N. .1., I am told, have brought 

 grouse shooting, (partridge they call it,) nearer to what 

 may be called a science thau those of any neighborhood 1 

 have yet visited. Their hills still contain a fair proportion 

 of birds, and the season for the sport is as eagerly looked 

 for as that of quail shooting. Fully acquainted with the 

 country, they know almost to a certainty where a grouse 

 will be found aud the direction of the flight it will take 

 when slatted. During my visit to this pleasant town in 

 the past summer, I was shown not a few setters that were 

 noted for grouse, and judging from the carefulness with 

 which all their stock had been bred, I have no doubt 

 fully as much attention had been paid to trainiug. 



At most I have always found ruffed grouse shooting un- 

 satisfactory; so much" so that I never care to choose as a 

 ground a region where I may expect to find this bird only. 

 In Monroe County, Pcun.,' while autumn cock shooting, 

 we frequently put up grouse, and occasionally get fair 

 enough shots to kill, but*never leave our regular beat for 

 them. 



I have promised myself a trip to Newton, N. J., during 

 this Coming November, and shall be shown the modus 

 Operandi of their grouse shooting; but from the appear- 

 ance of the surrounding country, it will be hard work. 

 T am convinced, and should I relate of my exploits to the 

 Forest and Stream on my return, I fear the same old 

 story will, have to be told — namely: that ruffed grouse 

 shooting is the most tedious I have yet indulged in. 



Homo. 



ABOUT SOME FISH AND BEARS IN 

 MAINE. 



By the courtesy of George Shepard Page, Vice President 

 of the American Fish Oulturisls' Association, and Presi- 

 dent of the Oquossoc Angling Association, we are permit- 

 ted to give to our readers the following interesting extracts 

 from a letter recently received by him from Hon. Henry 



0. Stanley, of Dixfield, Me., one of the Fish Commission- 

 ers of that State, and a veteran angler and sportsman : — 



Dixfield, Me., September 2d, 1874. 

 Since last I wrote you I have been on most of the fishing grounds of 

 any Importance in Maine, and part of New Brunswick; have visited the 

 Sc-bc-c Lakes (Grand and Scootlic) and Syssylladobsis, and the lakes 

 above. Have also been to the Mirlmicbi. The best of fishing is found 

 in the chain of lakes above Grand Lake, The number of lakes there is 

 legion, and the fishing magnificent aud easy of access. 1 went to Ban- 

 gor, then took the E. ami N. A . Railroad to Wina, Then the team to 

 Springfield, twenty miles, (good roadi to Duck Lake, then took canal 

 across Duck Lake to Junior Lake, across Pucumpus to Syssylladobsis. 

 The above rente I accomplished from Bangor in one day. There are 

 some fifteen or twenty targe takes that are accessible witli a canoe, with 

 short thoroughfares between aud good fishing in theui all. But few fish- 

 ermen go there, aud a party could have it all to themselves. Plenty of 

 land-locked salmon (tbe best and gamest fish in the world). Also some 

 brook trout (small , two pounds is largo to take tlieni), any number ot 

 togue, pickerel, and white perch, 1 could load a boat there with picKorel 

 in a day. The best time for catching the salmon is from the last of 

 May to the first or July. The close time commences there the 15th of 

 September, so there is no fishing in tbe fall. The salmon do not com- 

 mence running till the last of September. I would like to go there with 

 you next June. 1 think you would say it excelled any fishing yon ever 

 had. Stillwcll and myself have also been to Mirimicni. We went to 

 catch salmon, but did not so much as see a salmon. The natives had 

 been up the river and speared and netted, shot and killed every salmon 

 above Burnt Hill. The shores were lined with the remains of pitch 

 wood and burnt bark used in spearing. 1 should judge by appearances 

 that they did not protect their rivers at all. We had the pleasure of see- 

 ing four bears. Doctor I. and myself went down the river thirteen mites in 

 a canoe, nun siilhw-ll ami an. .ther gentleman took down tbe team. Dr. 



1. had thi gtova breech loader.'and I paddled tbe canoe. In coming 

 round the point t saw the hushes stirring about twenty rods alieau. 1 

 immediately told Ihe Doctor lhere was a bear or a deer. He took up the 

 rifle and began to load; be ro re he got loaded I ran the canoe up to the 

 shore, and there stood auotber bear— a large one— on the bank over our 

 heads. I could have reached him with my fishing rod, and think with 

 fly and plenty of line would liked to have hooked the "critter." Before 

 the Doctor got the rifle "loaded tbe bear walked over t he bank into the thick 

 bushes out of sight. The Doctor crawled up over the bauk to get a shot at 

 the varmint, aud 1 sat in the canoe. While 1 sat there, enter hear No. 

 S on the beach, a rew steps below me. He sat down on his haunches. I 

 was already on mine. He looked at me ; I looked at him. He looked 

 wise: bo did I. I did not speak to him, for fear lie might not understand, 

 aud was very anxious for [he Doctor to pay him his compliments first with 

 the rifle. You can imagine my feelings, sitting in a canoe trying to look 

 a bear out of countenance, and no gun. 1 think I should have parted 

 Yrith what little scrip I had iu my pockets for a gun well loaded. I did 

 not dare to speak to the Doctor, for fear of frightening Bruin. Artec we 

 had looked at one another as lorn; as we pleased, he got up and walked 

 oil without saying good-bye. So ended scare No, 1. After we got down 

 to the forks, where we intended to camp, we pitched bur tent, took din- 

 ner, and the Doctor, StiUwell and myself went down the stream about a 

 quarter of a mile, fishing, aud left a boy about seventeen years old to 

 pick some houghs for our bed, and fix up things generally. We had not 

 been there long before tile boy hallooed as though there was some 

 trouble. 1 took the canoe and went up lo the camp, and when 1 got to 

 the shore I hallooed, aud asked what was the matter. The boy stuck his 

 head outof the tent— face white as chalk. Said he: "The woods arefuil 

 of bears. While I was breaking bonghs from a tree close by I heard them 

 coming towards me. I ran for the tent, and the bears came along and 

 sat down within ten feet of me, aud remained some time after 1 hallooed 

 for you." I did not credit the story till 1 had examined the ground, 

 when the many tracks corroborated it. 



As for the fishing down (here, it was poor enough I have nodoubt it. 

 would be good if ' the river was protected. The bears are ihe best fea- 

 ture 1 saw iu the whole eoiiutrv. Deer are also very plenty. There are 

 hard trodden paths on the shores, and through the woods where the bear 

 ,.j ,..!-■.. — „i. ... .i ■""-» track. 1 should like 



4|t'M' £tubIicHtions. 



Publications sent to Uiis office, treating upon subjects that come within 

 the scope of the pap,,-, mil receive special attention. The receipt o/atl 

 books delivered at our Kditoiial Rooms will be promptly acknowledged 

 in the next issue. Publishers will confer a fai'or by piomptly advising 

 us of any omissirtn in Otis respect Prices of books inserted when 

 desiredA t 



Ohegon State Directory fob 1878. S. J. McCormick, 



Portland, Oregon 



What further evidences could wc have of the rapid civilization of the 

 extreme West than the production of an excellent Directory of tin- far off 

 State of Oregon? In the Directory underrcvleweoch county in the Slate 

 is described in a geological and agricultural sense, and in the hook may be 

 found inaturs of inieresi for the merch a nt , on- trader mid ihe farmer. 

 The pages devoted to the Zoology of Oregon are singularly full of varied 

 information, and from ihe perusal of the Director] one oan acquire an 

 excellent idea of the birds, beasts, li-u. trace, and plum- which are indig- 

 ene. as to the State. If ordinary Directories are of a quasi humdrum 

 character, tbe Oregon Directory rather reacts to us. here in the East as a 

 marvellous production, indicative of an amount of push, energy andde- 

 leriuiuauon which is unknown in ihe older Slates. The compiler of the 

 Directory, Mr John Mortimer Murphy, is thoroughly conversant with 

 the great State of Oregon, as to its past aud present, and our own columns 

 have often been enriched by the vivid descriptions of hunting acenea 

 written by Mr Murphy under the run, d&plumt nit "Mortimer Kerry " 



■<■»• . 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



By Lake and Rivek. An Angler's Rambles in the North 

 or England and Scotland. By Franc! « Francis. London: The Field 

 office. 1874. 



Old Sports and Spobtsmen; or, The Willey Country. 



By John Randall, F. G. S. London: Virtue & Co. 1874. 



